Electrical vaporizer for internal-combustion engines.



H. HERTZBERG & A. A. LOW. ELECTRICAL VAPOBIZBB FOEINTBBNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 16,1907. 1

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

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I TTOIHIEIS WITNESSES Q flaw HARRY HERTZBERG, or NEW YORK, AND ABBo'r A.

LOW, or HORSESHOE, NEW YORK; SA'ID HERTZBERG ASSIGNOB. TO SAID LOW.

ELECTRICAL vnomzm ron mmnmarrcormusrron ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. 19, 1909.

Original application filed February 11, 1907, Serial No. 866,792. Thisappticationfiled April 16, 1907.

' Serial No. 888,564. I

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY H-na'rzennc and Armor A. Low, citizens of theUnited States, residing at thecity of New York, borough of Brooklyn,State of New York, and Horseshoe, State of New York, respectively, haveinvented a certain new and useful Electrical Vaporizer forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specificatioThis invention is a vaporizer particularly adapted for use in internalcombustion engines.

The subject matter of this application is a division of a priorapplication filed by us on February 11, 1907, Serial No. 356,792.

The object of our invention is to quickly heat a surface against whichpetroleum or other liquid combustible is sprayed in starting the engine,whereby a sutficient temperature is produced in the vaporizer within avery short time for the purpose of convert- ,orizer located internallyof the combustion ing the liquid fuel into avapor, the latter beingmixed with air so as to produce an explosive charge.

Our invention is an electrically heated vapchambcr (or piston cylinder)of the engine.

The vaporizer of our invention is simple in construction, economical tomanufacture and install, efiicient in operation, and also particularlycompact, for the reason that it occupies yery little space in thecombustion cylinder of the engine. I

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated one practicalembodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to beunderstood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of theinvention. I

Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, illustrating oneembodiment ofthe invention in connection'with the piston cylinder, andone style of mixing chamber and intake valve. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of another form of our vaporizer which is constructed for thecirculation of a cooling medium therethrough when the engine is inoperation, said vaporizer being shown removed from the engine cylinder.Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section,illustrating another form of the electrically heated vaporizer adaptedfor use internally of the engine cylinder. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection on the line 4--& of Fig. 3 showing the outer tube of saidvaporizer partly broken away for the purpose of illustrating theelectrical resistance therein. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a rheostat ofthe electrical resistance contemplated by this invention.

InFig. lgof the drawings we have shown one type of internal combustionengine wherein we may employ our new form of vaporizer which is adaptedto be heated initially by an electriccurrent for the purpose ofconverting a combustible liquid into a vapor when starting the engineinto operation, after which the parts of the engine become heated tosuch, an extent as to vaporize the subsequent charges of the combustibleliquid, thereby insuring the continued operation of the engine. In saldFig. l the combustion chamber or piston cylinder is indicated at A, andapart of the piston is indicated at a. One end of the cylinder is closedby a head, B, in which is provided an intake passage, 6, the latterbeing closed by an intake valve, C. Any suitable means may be employedfor mechanically operating said intake valve from a moving part of theengine, or the said intake valve may be oper-' ated by the suctioncreated in the engine cylinder by the reciprocation of the pistontherein. As shown, however, the valve, 0, is provided with a stem, 0, onwhich acts a spring, C, for holding the valve, C, normally on its seatin the. cylinder head.

D is a casing secured to the cylinder, A, or the head, B, in any usualor preferred way. Said casing forms a mixing chamber, (Z, and acirculating chamber, (2', the latter being next to the head, B, andpermitting the circulation of a cooling 1nedium,-such as water. Thecasing is shown as having an air inlet, e, the area of which iscontrolled by any suitable form of valve or regulator, E, adapted toregulate the volume of atmospheric air which is to be supplied to themixing chamber, d.

Any suitable means may be employed for supplyin 7 a combustible liquidto the chamber, (l. uch liquid may be of any suitable or preferredcharacter, but in the engine shown by the drawings we contemplatesupplying kerosene to the mixing chamber.

A jet nozzle, F, is attached to the hood,

. ,D, and as shown, said nozzle is arranged to gine is started.

gine when starting the same,

whereby the engine,

throw a jet of combustible liquid across the chamber, d, and against orthrough the diaphra m, G. Said diaphragm may be of any suita 1e naturebut as shown it consists of a iece of metallic gauze arranged verticallywlthin the mixing chamber and in the path of the jet of liquid from thenozzle, F, whereby the diaphragm is adapted to break up the jet ofliquid into a spray, such liquid spray being brought into contactwiththe diaphragm when the en- It is to be understood that a jet ofcombustible liquid is'forced under pressure, and at intervals, into themixing chamber by a suitable mechanlcal'apphance, such as a pump, thelatter being operated by the engine.

and convert the same is in mechanical contact, practically, :with

developed in the resistance when the electric current is admittedthereto is absorbed by the metallic masses practically as fast as theheat is generated. This construction is admetal will become heated veryquickly by an eIectrI cburrent in or-ler to furnish a hot vaporizingsurface to the combustible liquid cylinder.

Any suitable means may be employed for According to the presentinvention we emsupporting the vaporizer within the comploy anelectrically heated vaporizer which is located within a combustlonchamber or piston cylinder of the engine, said vaporizer also within theaforesaid chamber or cylin der. The vaporizer of this invention isheated electrically for a short period of time when starting the engine,and it is employed merely for the purpose of vaporizing the first numberof charges admitted to the enafter which the current of electric energyis cut ofi from said vaporizer for the reason that the parts of theengine become heated to such a temperature as will convert the liquidintovapor, after starting the same, will operate automatically andindependently of the vaporizer of this invention.

Various constructions of the internally 10- cated vaporizer are shown inFigs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but we will describe the constructionrepresented in Fig. 1, and thereafter set forth in detail theconstructions of the other Vaporizers shown in Fig. 2 and in Figs. 3,

and 4.

The vaporizer. H, of Fig. 1 is arranged in the path of a mixture of airand combustible liquid, in order that said liquid may be brought incontact with the heated surface of the vaporizer when the intake valveis opened in the operation of the engine. As shown, said vaporizer iscomposed .of metallic plates or masses, h, h, arranged to clamp betweenthemselves an electrical resistance, 11. the latter being insulated frommetallic contact with said plates or masses by layers of insulatingmaterial, h preferably composed of thin layers of mica. It is preferredto employ a thin metallic: wire or bustion chamber or piston cylinder ofthe engine, but as shown in Fig. 1, it is adapted by hangers, i. Theelectrical current for heating thevaporizer is supplied to, and conveyedfrom, the electrical resistance, 71?, by conductors, j, the latter beingled through suitable bushings, is, k, which are shown as being fastenedto the head,.'B,and a flanged part, 01 of the casing, the engine shownin Fig. 1 will be readily understood from the foregoing description,when the valve, C, is opened, a mixture of air and liquid combustible,such as kerosene, is admitted bythe intake passage, 1), into thecombustion chamber. Owing to the arrangement of the vaporizer, H, in thepath of the inflowing mixture, the liquid combustible is brought intocontact with the hot surfaces of said vaporizer, whereby said liquidcombustible is converted into a vapor, and the air is heated, thusproducing anexplosive charge which is adapted to be ignit/ed by theoperation of a spark plug, I, or any equivalent form of igniter. It willbe understood that before starting the engine is in-a cold condition,and should an explosive charge 'be admitted to the en 'ne while tible orkerosene of such explosive charge would condense when brought intocontact with such cold surfaces.

objection and enable the engine to be started promptly, we provide theelectrically heated vaporizer. Before starting the engine an electricalcurrent is admitted to the resistance of said vaporizer for the purposeof initially and quickly heating the latter. Now 'when the engine iscranked and the valve. C, is opened, the mixture of air and 'derconyertedinto vapor and the explosive D. The operation of in suchcondition, the liquid com us liquid combustible is admitted to thecyli'n at which time the liquid combustible is charge is produced andadapted to besubribbon as the electrical resistance, and to the metallicmasses, h, h, whereby the heat vantageous for the reason that the massesof as it is admitted with the air to the engine to be suspended belowthe intake val've, C,

To .overcome this I sequently ignited bythe operation of the igniter,

In Fig. 2 of the drawings we have shown another embodiment of ourinvention consisting of a vaporizer adapted to be electrically heatedwhen starting the engine, said vaporizer of Fig. 2 being constructed forthe circulation therethrough of a cooling medium when the engine isheated up and in operation, whereby the vaporizer is prevented frombecoming too hi hly heated in the operation of the engine. gaidvaporizer is represented as a ring or annulus adapted to be attached to,or suspended from, the cylinder head,'B, in any suitable or preferredway, the annular vaporizer being in the path of the liquid combustibleor the explosive charge admitted by theintake valve, C, to the enginecylinder. The ring, H, of said annular vaporizer is provided in itslower portion with a recess, m, which receives the electric appliance orrheostat heretofore described as consisting of a resistance wire orribbon adapted to be in sulated electrically from metallic contact withthe body or mass of metal by interposed layers of mica. The resistancewire or ribbon, if, indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 2, is coiledon a mica core; h, and said core and the resistance are betweeninsulating mica layers, it, the latter being in contact with the mass ofmetal formed by the ring or annulus, H, said mica layers, I1 and thecore, it, being in the form of rings. The

electrical current is supplied to and returned from the resistance, 71?,by the conductors, j, which lead through the insulating bushing, 761.The annulus or ring, H, ofsaid vaporizer is provided, furthermore, witha chamber, it, above the recess, m, and this chamber of the annularvaporizer is in communication with passages, n, which establishcommunication between the chamber, n, of the vaporizer with thecirculating chamber, d, of the cylinder head, whereby the water, orother cooling medium, may be caused to circulate through the vaporizer,H, when the engine is in service.

When the intake valve is opened the mixture of air and liquidcombustible flows into the open space of the vaporizer, H, the inclinedsurface of said valve, C, operating to direct the aforesaid mixture intocontact with the inner surface of said annular vaporizer. The vaporizerbeing heated by an electrical current before the engine is started, theadmission of the first charge of explosive mixture of the enginecylinder brings the liquid combustible of such charge into contact withthe hot surface of said annular vaporizer, so that the liquidcombustible is converted into vapor, the latter being exploded by theoperation of the igniter. After the engine shall have been started intooperation, the electric current'is switched 011' from the vaporizer,

and the water circulating through the cylinder head, B, is free to flowthrough the chamber, m, of said vaporizer, thus preventin the latterfrom becoming unduly heated and obviating deterioration of the metal andthe electrical resistance constituting said vaporizer.

In Figs. 3 and at of the drawings we have shown another form ofelectrically heated and water cooled vaporizer, the same being indicatedgenerally by the reference character b In this form of our invention weemploy concentric tubes, 0, 0, and an interposed elec trical resistanceor rheostat between said concentric tubes. Preferably the tubes are bentinto the annular form shown in Fi 4, and the inner tube is provi'dedwith vertical legs, p, p, said legs being adapted to be extended throughthe cylinder head, B, whereby one of said legs may be connected with acirculating pipe, P, while the other leg may connect with anothercirculating pipe (not shown). The pipe, P, is shown as having acontrolling valve, 19 adapted to be closed for shutting off thecirculation of water through the vaporizer when it is to be heatedelectrically prior to starting the engine." A layer, q, of insulatingmaterial, preferably of mica, is wound or wrapped around the inner tube,0, and on this insulating layer is coiled or wrapped an electricalresistance, q, the latter being composed, preferably, of a thin metallicwire or ribbon of the character indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. Around thiswire or ribbon forming the resistance is placed another layer, 9 ofinsulating material, preferably of mica, whereby the electricalresistance is inclosed between layers of mica, g, the effect of which isto electrically insulate the resistance wire or ribbon from metalliccontact with the mass of metal composing the tubes, 0, 0, of thevaporizer, although the resistance is practically in mechanical contactwith said tubes.

In practice we prefer to employ two copper tubes, one of which issmaller in diameter than the other, and while the tubes are in straightcondition we apply the insulating layer, 9, to the smaller tube, 0. Theresistance wire or ribbon is now coiled on said layer and then the otherinsulating layer is wrapped around the resistance, after which theprepared inner tube, the resistance, and the insulating layers, areincased within the outer tube, 0. Finally the assembled parts are bentto the annular or ring like form shown in thedrawings, and the ends ofthe inner tube are then bent upwardly to produce the legs, p, 79, thuscompleting the vaporizer and making it ready for installation into thecombustion chamber. Said vaporizer is adapted to be suspended from thecylinder head, B, by hangers, '1, or their equivalents, whereby thevaporizer is disposed below the intake valve, C, to bein the path ofthe:

inflowingcharge of liquid .combustibler 4 It is evident that prior tostarting the en-' gine, the electr ccurrent is admitted to theresistance, q, for the purpose of heating the tubes, 9, b, so thaton'theadmissionof the mixture to the engine cylinder-the liquidcombustible contained in said mixture'will' be converted into vaporbycontact-with the hot surface of the vaporizer, H After the engine isstarted, the electricalfl current is swltched from the resistance,g,--but to prevent the vaporizer frombecomin toohighly heated, thevalve, 12", is opened, or the purpose of admitting water or othercooling medium to the inner tube, 0', of the vapo rizer, whereby thelatter is cooled when the engine is in operation.

Under the generic aspect of our invention, which contemplates thelocation of a vaporizer within the combustion chamber or piston cylinderof a combustion engine, and

v, means for electrically heating the said vaporizer when start-inn theengine, we may cmploy an electrica heater or rheostat in connection,with the intakevalve employed for admitting a liquid combustible tosaid cylinderl or combustion chamber. Said in take valve is soconstructed as to embody a mass of heat'absorbing metal containing aninclosed electrical resistance adapted to be supplied with a current ofelectrical energy, whereby the resistance develops heat adapted to betransmitted to the body or mass of metal formed by .said intake valve.The electrical resistance constituting the electrical heater isconstructed and arranged for operation in substantially the manner here-.tofore described. a p Having thus fully described the invention,

what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina starting vaporizer for internal combustion engines, a. combustionchamber,

a vaporizing" member substantially inclosed withinv saidcombustionchamber, electrical I i means for initially heating said vaporizingmember, said vaporizing member being provided with a chamber or passagefor the circulation of a cooling medlum in contact.

with thewalls thereof, and means whereby a cooling medium may circulatein the chamher or passage of said vaporizing member. A 2. In anapparatus of the class described,

a chamber, a vaporizer having electric means incased therein. for.initially heating the same,said vaporizer being positioned within saidchamber, and means for securing. the circulation of a cooling .me'diumthrough said vaporizer. V a,

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

a chamber, a hollow vaporizer positioned therein, electric means forinitially heating said vaporizer, and means for cooling said vaporizer.

4. In anhpparatns of the class described, a combustion chamber, avaporizer positioned within said chamber and having a substantiallyannular chamber for the circulation of a cooling medium, and means forelectrically heatingsaid vaporizer.

'5; In an apparatus'of theclass described, a-combxistion chamber,avchambered vapor zer; ositioned therein, electric means for initial yheating said va orizer, and means for establishin the circ ation of acooling medium in sai vaporizer.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber, a tubularvaporizer ositioned therein, sa1d tubular vaporizer ormmg a chamber forthe circulation of a cooling va cooling medium may circulate through thechamber of said vaporlzer, and means for electrically heating saidvaporizer.

'9. In an apparatus of the class described, a vaporizer composed-of amass of heat absorbing metal, an electrically operated heater in saidmass of metal, and means whereby a cooling medium is adapted tocirculate in contactwith said metallic mass.

10. In a starting vaporizer for internal member positioned in saidchamber for contact with the li uid combustible, said vapo-.

rizin member eing composed of a chambere mass of heat-absorbing metal,means for means for esta cooling mediumin contact with the walls of saidvaporizing member.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a combustion chamber havinga fuel inlet, a vaporizer positioned within said chamber and in the pathof fuel admitted by said fuel inlet, said vaporizer comprising achambered mass of heat absorbing metal through which a cooling medium isadapted to circulate, and an electrically operated heater incased bysaid metallic mass for initially heating the same.

l2. In an internal combustion engine, a

initially heating the vaporizing member, and lishing the circulation ofa.

105 combustion engines, a chamber havingan .inlet for a liquldcombustible, a vaporizing season 5 combustion chamber, a startingVaporizer I In testimony whereof we have signed our 10 Vaporizer beingcomposed of concentric ositioned within sald combustion chamber names tothis specification in the presence of or contact with a liquidcombustible adapted l two subscribing Witnesses.

to be supplied to said chamber, said starting HARRY HERTZBERG tubes, andan electrical resistance incased by ABBOT one of said tubes, whereby theheat develi Witnesses: oped by the resistance is absorbed quickly lAUGUST WAssMAN, by said tubes. 1 H. T. BERNHARD.

